Primp & Pamper

With stressful lives and the gloomy weather, feeling blue in the last legs of winter is almost inevitable. In times like these, I think we all deserve an hour or so just to ourselves for self care in the form of relaxing and pampering. Since I've been feeling a little glum myself, I thought I'd outline some of my favorite ways to "treat yo self"!

Put On Your Favorite Lipstick
Is it just me, or does putting on lipstick put anybody else in a good mood? I have found that devoting a couple minutes to experimenting with your makeup makeup collection has always been a bit therapeutic! After wanting and saving for months, I finally splurged on a Tom Ford lipstick (in Paradiso) and it is heaven. Another favorite? Too Faced's Juicy Melons.

Eat Your Favorite Candy
(Because candy is dandy)

Read a Magazine
While waiting for a face mask or your nails to dry, why not pour over one of your favorite magazines? I am currently smitten with Betty Magazine (look out for a post on this gorgeous magazine soon)!

Use a Face Mask
With a host of affordable to luxury face masks that deep clean, tighten pores or exfoliate on the market, your face deserves a bit of pampering - just don't forget the cucumber slices! n_~ (Here I used a purifying papaya mud mask)

Wear Perfume
I'm kind of guilty of using my perfume only for very, very special occasions - it's just so pretty and expensive I don't ever want to use it all up ;A; I do think, however, spritzing yourself with a lavish scent can be just the right way to perk up your mood! I love Marc Jacob's Daisy (I've had it for years and it still smells perfect!) and Nicki Minaj's fragrance.

Paint Your Nails
Filing and painting one's nails is something I haven't gotten the hang of yet (seriously, how do you people get your nails into specific shapes?!), but now that my nails have grown out (I bite them when I'm nervous!) I've been painting them left and right! Here I'm wearing Wet n Wild's Tickled Pink.

How do you pamper yourself? ♡

Be Mine

SWEATER: ℅ MissGuided SKIRT: ℅ MissGuided (similar) SOCKS: American Apparel (similar) SHOES: Kohls (old) PURSE: Aldo

Happy Valentine's Day babes! Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, have a significant other or friends and family to say your I love yous too - I hope you have a beautiful day and eat lots of on sale chocolate! ^__^

(I centered the text on the purse here for aesthetic purposes)

After a snow storm, it was such a nice surprise when the snow melted and we had a string of days warm enough for me to slip into this a d o r a b l e outfit from Missguided! This skirt is seriously one of my most favorite possessions now - pink, plastic, and in a skater silhouette, it's like a wardrobe staple that got a little makeover! I paired it with an eyelash cropped sweater and American Apparel thigh highs for a Cher Horowitz-esque look :3

Also, this purse from Aldo is one of the cutest designs I have ever seen and I knew I had to have it (it just spoke to me, you know). Unfortunately when it arrived I noticed the text was completely off center - I'm currently in talks with Aldo to see if I can exchange it for a fixed version - fingers crossed please because this purse would be PERFECT otherwise! ;___; (I get too emotionally attached to clothing and accessories, I am know ;_;)

Do you have any Valentine's day plans? I want to hear all about them! n__n

60s Bombshell with Covergirl + $100 Giveaway

So, so excited to be sharing my second video with you guys! CoverGirl recently asked me to review their new Bombshell line comprised of mascara, eyeliner, and beautiful cream shadows which immediately reminded me of 60s French scarlets with smokey cat eyes like Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot.

I picked up the Bombshell Volume by Lashblast Mascara in Very Black, Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black Passion, and Bombshell Shine Shadow Eye Shadows in Ooh La Lilac and Ice Queen at Wal-Mart and set to work transforming myself into a 60s bombshell!

It was so fun playing with these products - the cream shadows blended beautifully and I love that they could be sheered out or packed on to intensify the color. I usually don't use felt tip eyeliners, but found the Bombshell Intensity Liner worked like a dream for applying my favorite look - cat eyes!

I've been having terrible luck with mascaras - I've looked high and low (literally - both at high and low-end products!) but nothing has truly wowed me - but Bombshell Volume Mascara is something special! After applying with it's special duel ended wands - one a volumizing basecoat, the other a intensifying topcoat - not one but two people asked if I was wearing false lashes! Incredible.

ON MY FACE:
Smoothers Liquid Make Up in Buff Beige
TruMagic Skin Perfector
Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Blush Twist
Ice Queen
Ooh La Lilac
Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black Passion
Bombshell Volume by Lashblast Mascara in Very Black
Contouring Blush in Peach Perfection

And, CoverGirl is offering one Mermaidens' reader a $100 giftcard to Wal-Mart! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! Giveaway ends February 12th and is open to United States residents only. Winner will be contacted via email or twitter. If winner doesn't reply to email within 24 a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. The Walmart gift card and information have been provided by CoverGirl.

Hello February!

I know, I know - where have I been?! With the new year came a heap of obstacles that snowballed and left me unable to keep Mermaidens updated - boo! I've finally sorted everything out and am able to share new posts with you guys - and thank goodness because I have missed you all so much ;___;

After such an long hiatus, a post catching you up whats been going on in my life would be apropos, right?!:

One of my new years resolutions was to start drawing more, and my first instinct was to draw cute fruit patterned backgrounds (and isn't my strawberry iPhone case the cutest?)!

I interviewed Miss Marlena for MissRobin's newest issue and much to my surprise, I spotted an illustrated version of my face with Marlena alongside the article! You will be seeing more of this issue in a future post so stay tuned :3

Finally found my dream Forever 21 shirt that had been sold out for months and organized my makeup in a pretty way - okay I guess this really wasn't newsworthy but the picture is pretty!?

On January 19th, my cat Fi passed away. We found her on our doorstep in 1998 and she has followed me from ages 5 to 20 through several moves, new animals, and helped me cope with some of the hardest moments of my life. It was all very sudden and it's been very difficult to wrap my head around - but thanks to the outpouring of love and support I received from readers via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email, etc - I feel like I am coming to accept it. I can't thank you enough if you sent me a note - it helped me more then I could ever articulate.

The highlight of the January was, without a doubt, eating donuts with photographer Hana Haley in Portland on the 23rd! When Hana approached me to model for her, I was a bit afraid it was too good to be true. In the back of my mind I have secretly wished I could model once or twice - but to be honest I never thought anybody would consider me particularly special enough to photograph and I worried my shyness would interfere if I DID get a chance, somehow.

So imagine my absolute bewilderment and glee when I found myself posing for one of my favorite photographers! I had the most wonderful time - Hana not only immediately put me at ease and helped me forget to be nervous posing in front of strangers, but proved to be extremely funny and it was a pleasure to watch her set up a shot. Saying I feel extremely blessed and lucky to work with such a talented lady is an understatement and I will forever be grateful for such a wonderful opportunity! Hana has updated a few pictures from the shoot here and I will be making a post with the full series when it is released! <3

Please please let me know you have been and I hope you have a beautiful week!

Milk Teeths Vintage Giveaway

When I first discovered Milk Teeths Vintage, I was overjoyed! Not only is this vintage etsy shop filled with adorable and affordable vintage pieces, but it is owned by one of my favorite style bloggers, Ashley! I ended up buying this daisy dress there last spring, and I was completely satisfied with my purchase - it even came with the sweetest note! I am very happy to announce Ashley is generously offering one lucky reader $75 to spend at Milk Teeths Vintage!

Enter the giveaway using the widget below, but if you can't wait, Milk Teeths is offering 15% off with the code "mermaidens"! Good luck friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open internationally. Winner will be contacted via email. If winner doesn't respond within 5 days a new winner will be chosen.

10 Cute Stocking Stuffers Under $10

Whenever I look at stocking stuffer guides and see things $40+ I'm a bit shocked! Growing up with three siblings, I learned at a young age what it meant to stretch a dollar and to me "stocking stuffers" has always meant "under $10". So when Jaime suggested I make a post about finding cute stocking stuffers with tight budgets in mind, I was happy to compile a list for those of us who have a strict budget to stick to this holiday season!

WET N WILD'S MEGALAST LIPSTICKS in 24 Carrot Gold, Cherry Picking, Pinkerbell,
Red Velvet, & Sugarplum Fairy

REVLON'S HEAVENLY NAIL POLISH, ETUDE HOUSE ICE CREAM NAIL POLISH
(a gift from Marlena - thank you doll!)

MAKEUP
Pretty much the holy grail stocking stuffer for me is makeup! There are so many really wonderful drugstore makeup brands out there with super affordable prices. My favorites are Wet n Wild (particularly their $2 lipsticks - I LOVE THEM), E.L.F., Revlon, and NYX.

TOYS
Target has adorable Lego minifigures (in store for only $2.99 I believe! My little brothers love these and have quite a collection) and a $1 section filled with cute knick knacks - World Market also has a bunch of adorable old fashioned toys!

CANDY
Okay, who doesn't love candy?! This Giant Gummy Bear On A Stick on Fred Flare looks pretty darn heavenly, but normal sized sweets and the classic candy canes will do just as well of course! What's everybody's favorite candy? Mine is Hasbrio gummies!

DARLING WHAT HAVE I DONE? & PIZZA WHIPPED PINS BY WISHCANDY

PINS
I love love love pins - especially when you can support your favorite independent artists by purchasing them! I just recently bought this Wishcandy pin and it's perfect! Other cute pins found on etsy: all of these by The Floral Prince & Mr. Meow Pin by Pretty Little Fawn. You can find some cute ones on Hot Topic as well.

CLOTHES
Forever 21 has a great under $10 section with cute cropped tops that would be perfect layering pieces!

STATIONARY
Notebooks, pens, pencils, envelopes, notepads, stickers, novelty erasers - I love that stuff! Sanrio and Darling Dear have a great selection.

CANDY HEART RING BY CREATURE TYPE

ACCESSORIES
Like gloves, socks, headbands (Forever 21 has a bunch), jewelry (there is so many cute pieces on etsy!), and these temporary tattoos by Harriet Gray are particularly adorable.

Another fun option is compact mirrors - this Sweet & Lovely Pocket Mirror is adorably retro and Forever 21's are always my favorite!

MAGAZINES
A single magazine is fun to roll up in a stocking, and magazines like Teen Vogue and Marie Claire are just $10 to subscribe for a whole year (or in Teen Vogue's case, two)!

ITUNES GIFT CARD
Music is one of the greatest gifts, and thanks to iTunes you can gift your loved ones quite an impressive amount of tracks with only $10.

DIY
As great as this all are, nothing is quite as special as a gift you made with your own two hands just for them! Here is my DIY Pinterest board for some ideas.

Hasbro Gummy Cherries, Ruffled Socks, Cat Ears Headband, Purr Lip Gloss, Cat Makeup Brushes, Cat Compact, Mr. Meow Pin, Sweet & Lovely Pocket Mirror, Creature Type Ring, NYX Lipstick, Giant Gummy Bear, Wishcandy Pin, Heart Stud Earrings.

Forever 21, Target, World Market, Wal-Mart, and Dollar Tree have literally hundreds of cheap, cute knick knacks that would be perfect for stocking stuffers and are also my favorite places to shop in general! Another bit of advice: when shopping online, most stores offer the option to sort products by lowest price first - which is super helpful!

The possibilities are truly endless and I hope this post was able to give you some ideas! I would love to hear about your Christmas plans - have you already started buying presents? ♡